Ask President Obama to support Darwin Day

As an American who values scientific inquiry and integrity, I urge you to issue a presidential proclamation recognizing Darwin Day on February 12. Darwin Day is celebrated every year on the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birthday in 1809, and is a day in which people gather together to commemorate his life and work. Charles Darwin was the first to propose the groundbreaking scientific theory of evolution by natural selection—a theory that has done more to unify and bring understanding to the life sciences than any other—and Darwin Day is a celebration of this discovery and of scientific progress.

I believe that issuing this proclamation will send a powerful message that scientific discovery and integrity in our society are top priorities—priorities that are needed now more than ever as extremists with narrow ideological agendas are attempting to undermine science in our schools.

Please stand with me and countless others who value science and discovery by issuing the following or a similar proclamation on Darwin Day.

As an evolutionary biologist and a big Darwin Day fan, I urge you to go sign it. I’m not sure what the odds are that Obama would want to go pissing off a significant amount of creationist Americans, but might as well try.

I’m a bit pissed off on the fact that, last year, everybody was celebrating Darwin’s birth and the publication of evolutionary theory was mentioned as a side note, if at all. Shouldn’t we celebrate scientific advance, rather than persons behind it?Excuse me for being concerned.

I'm a bit pissed off on the fact that, last year, everybody was celebrating Darwin's birth and the publication of evolutionary theory was mentioned as a side note, if at all. Shouldn't we celebrate scientific advance, rather than persons behind it?

Good point. Celebrating Darwin as a person would only help to reinforce the “Atheism is a religion too” opinion of many Christians. I can already hear them… “Look, they’re celebrating their atheist prophet!” I’d be all for a holiday that celebrates scientific progress, but picking Darwin over the many other great and rational minds, such as Aristotle or Einstein, would feel a bit strange.